![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoXmMLLVB47XuJl0xw8VV2lE1CnoqMmtqtiIMDEdhtjFP8tejfXfifg9JpeJjgv6pxN9P9cBrqoIuVP-cZcgafHgSR-ty68zx9VVj-uo3NWIMZeOYSryz9t1TnfPuQzeHsJpqjA/s400/ANAWANGIN.jpg)
We did a hike in the province of ZAMBALES a few years ago and I remember everything vividly. I was tired at that time because I went to the outskirts of Manila to party with my friends. I did not know I was in for something the next day. This was the time when we went to a place called ANAWANGIN. It’s a remote island cove that you can reach only in two ways either by boat or by hiking a mountain.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlN71Un2jXwnQaptvIfbpqoPAJHx-C7KfHK7ZtvsGMWwOrMxjAQzHTNeCZjKBbVcdkDs6IN3R7MgFaE7FQi15Ju5ZxSYNtBPNpaigykpwtf8MQMy1s24Lk4_zropS1p6Xp3pZEA/s400/ANAWANGIN2.jpg)
So we did it the hard way and hiked the mountain because as everyone had in mind it was only a fun climb. The thought of walking for 4 hours didn’t frighten me but little did I know we almost got there after 6-7 hours of hiking and trekking with boulders on the side. The views were indeed spectacular as I carried my own Marmot backpack and a walking stick. I was already tired and we were not even half way as the tour guide mentioned. Lucky me I wasn’t carrying too much. My friend who’s all in his new North Face backpack and jacket was treating it easy because he was one of the most experienced mountaineer among us. We were actually all alone when we went halfway the trail as the tour guide didn’t even bother to look back and went on his way to about ¾ the trek. I was panting hard and so were my other office mates but we still managed to get there. We even took pictures of our experience and the view on top of the mountain. The summit was worth it but there was another 3 hours of going down and it was almost dark. We did hurry up a bit so we can prepare dinner and once we are already there we can eat as fast as the night comes. We only had a few things, our Outdoor Gear and ourselves but we sure enjoyed every bit of it. It’s something big but I’m glad we accomplished something other people would only dream of.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlN71Un2jXwnQaptvIfbpqoPAJHx-C7KfHK7ZtvsGMWwOrMxjAQzHTNeCZjKBbVcdkDs6IN3R7MgFaE7FQi15Ju5ZxSYNtBPNpaigykpwtf8MQMy1s24Lk4_zropS1p6Xp3pZEA/s400/ANAWANGIN2.jpg)
So we did it the hard way and hiked the mountain because as everyone had in mind it was only a fun climb. The thought of walking for 4 hours didn’t frighten me but little did I know we almost got there after 6-7 hours of hiking and trekking with boulders on the side. The views were indeed spectacular as I carried my own Marmot backpack and a walking stick. I was already tired and we were not even half way as the tour guide mentioned. Lucky me I wasn’t carrying too much. My friend who’s all in his new North Face backpack and jacket was treating it easy because he was one of the most experienced mountaineer among us. We were actually all alone when we went halfway the trail as the tour guide didn’t even bother to look back and went on his way to about ¾ the trek. I was panting hard and so were my other office mates but we still managed to get there. We even took pictures of our experience and the view on top of the mountain. The summit was worth it but there was another 3 hours of going down and it was almost dark. We did hurry up a bit so we can prepare dinner and once we are already there we can eat as fast as the night comes. We only had a few things, our Outdoor Gear and ourselves but we sure enjoyed every bit of it. It’s something big but I’m glad we accomplished something other people would only dream of.